Dan Woodland
Live reporter

Image source, Remco van Schellen

The Port of Dover was brought to a standstill today after hundreds of men, dressed in black and wearing face coverings, blocked roads in a supposed protest against small boat crossings.

We're about to close this live page, but before we do so here's a quick summary of what's been happening:

• Protesters arrived "in the early hours" of Saturday morning and began obstructing roads, preventing some traffic from coming in and out of the port, prompting a response from Kent Police
• Locals residents found the group "extremely intimidating", according to Dover MP Mike Tapp, while port workers, tourists and commuters say they were prevented from going anywhere for several hours
• Some protesters were heard chanting "whose streets" and "stop the boats"
• At around 09:00, National Highways reported four miles of congestion, with queues of up to 45 minutes for those entering the port. Ferry operators also warned passengers of disruption due to the protest
• By midday, many of the protesters had began leaving the area and making their towards Dover Priory station. Shortly after, the Port of Dover declared that roads near the site were "now free flowing", while Kent Police said "all involved had dispersed" and no arrests had been made
• The protest drew criticism from across the political specturm, with the government condemning the behaviour of the protesters, while Reform UK leader Nigel Farage said he "deplored" anyone wearing masks or balaclavas at public demonstrations

You can continue reading with our news story.

Image source, PA Media

A short while ago, Reform UK leader Nigel Farage condemned protesters in Dover covering their faces.

He said he "deplored" anyone wearing masks or balaclavas at public demonstrations.

"You should not be allowed to be masked up, balaclava-ed up and go out and protest on the streets of our country. It is wrong at every level. So I deplore what is happening in Dover today," Farage added.

Daniel Sandford
UK correspondent

The Crime and Policing Act 2026 made it an offence to conceal your identity at a protest in England and Wales, but only if the area has been designated by a police officer of a rank of at least inspector.

In order to designate an area (under section 158) the police officer needs to believe offences are likely to take place.

The section to do with concealing your identity (section 157) came into force in June.

Simon Jones
Reporting from Dover

After a morning of chaos, an air of calm is returning to Dover.

But there will be concern among the authorities that so little was apparently known about this demonstration in advance, and that it was able to cause so much disruption in the town.

Southeastern rail says passengers who have "been impacted by the problems in Dover" and have missed their scheduled train can get the next available service at no extra cost.

In a post on social media platform X, the trainline says this will apply throughout Saturday.

Far-right activist Tommy Robinson has posted in support of protesters in Dover several times today.

Robinson, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, refers to the protest as the "Battle of Britain" and has posted calls for more protesters to join the earlier blockade at the port.

He also shared a video of a migrant processing facility that has been spray painted with the words "blood is on your hands".

That same video has been shared by fellow far-right activist Daniel Thomas, known as Danny Tommo, who is believed to be the founder of the Patriot Platform network.

Anti-hate organisation Hope Not Hate claims that Patriot Platform arranged the protest in Dover.

Hope Not Hate says that the group began meeting in July and has brought together members of anti-migrant groups from around the country.

Police have not yet said who organised the protests. The BBC has not independently verified if Patriot Platform is associated with the protesters.

Andrée Massiah
BBC Your Voice

A London tour guide says he was at the port to meet a group of tourists at Dover cruise terminal when "hooded protesters arrived en masse".

Rafael Pittman says the tour group were unable to disembark and he was unable to enter the terminal as it was blocked by freight trucks.

He describes seeing the protesters heading towards the cruise terminal followed by police.

"They looked quite frightening, but I approached them and when I spoke to them, they were friendly-ish," he says.

"They told me they were protesting against illegal immigration, and I passed on the information to the police.

"There was no violence...as far as I could see.

"I was there for three hours, and it was absolute chaos.”

Daniel Friend, the Dover District councillor for Sandwich and Woodnesborough, says protesters have been spotted in nearby Sandwich and "police are in attendance".

"Following the disruption in Dover earlier today, local reports now indicate that a group of protesters has arrived in Sandwich," he writes on Facebook.

"Police are on the scene and I’m aware of residents reporting disruption locally. At this stage, I don’t want to speculate about what is happening beyond what can actually be confirmed."

Friend says he will share any confirmed information from Kent Police or the relevant authorities as soon as it becomes available.

Simon Jones
Reporting from Dover

At lunchtime, the police marched the protesters to the railway station and they have since left the town.

The Port of Dover said not just its passengers but the local community had been badly affected.

Although demonstrations against illegal immigration are common in Dover - as it’s the place migrants are brought to shore after they are picked up in the Channel - they are usually advertised in advance.

Today’s protest has been on a different scale.

Kent Police has issued a statement following the disruption in Dover earlier today.

It says officers "responded to a spontaneous protest" during Saturday morning, adding "no arrests were made".

"Traffic is flowing normally, and all involved had dispersed by midday," it adds

Michael Keohan
Reporting from Dover

From just after 07:00 BST several hundred masked protesters gathered to close one of the key routes into the Port of Dover.

Hundreds of them chanted "whose streets" and "stop the boats".

I spoke to some in the protest about why they had come to Dover and who was behind the protest, but no-one would talk openly to me.

The protest broke the police cordon shortly before 11:30, moving to Dover Priory station.

Locals leaning out of flats waved to them as they marched, and some applauded as protesters made their way through Dover town.

Barry Caffrey
Reporting from Dover

I'm still on Platform 1 at Dover Priory station and just witnessed at least 100 people boarding a train to Ramsgate. They were all dressed in black and wore black balaclavas.

When the train arrived, they got on board and it was completely full leaving the station. One of the group shouted "we are all leaving together, no-one will be left behind".

I also saw some other people trying to board the train but they couldn’t and they stood back to let the people dressed in black board.

All the protesters have left now from Dover Priory station.

The government has responded to the protest at the Port of Dover today.

A spokesperson says in a statement: "The right to peaceful protest is fundamental to our democracy, but we condemn the behaviour in Dover and the travel disruption it has caused.

"We appreciate the frustration of those who have been impacted today. Access to the port is now restored and traffic is flowing. Those travelling to the Port are advised to allow for extra travel time and to follow guidance from providers.

"We thank policing partners and travel providers who we continue to work with to ensure the safety of passengers and the wider community.”

Andrée Massiah
BBC Your Voice

Image source, Lania Tkaczyk

Lania Tkaczyk says she saw a number of men in dressed in black outside her hotel in Dover.

"We were stranded at the Port of Dover this morning and have only just been able to leave," she tells the BBC.

"We stayed at the Premier Inn and could see a protest opposite of the dual carriageway.

"It was quite intimidating seeing the men head-to-toe in black."

She says her children, aged 13 and 16, are in Folkstone waiting for their window to swim the channel as part of a relay for the Mencap Marvels.

"They've been training all year," she adds. "I travelled down from Cheshire yesterday but because of the protest I’ve been delayed but I hope to get to Folkstone to see my children soon."

Barry Caffrey
Reporting from Dover

I have just arrived into Dover Priory station on a train from Ashford International.

There’s a group of about 100 people sitting down on benches along Platform 1.

They are all men from what I can make out, dressed in black, and they all are wearing black balaclavas.

They are a mixture of ages - teenagers and young adults as well as older people.

As the train from Ashford International pulled into Dover Priory, they waved at it.

Mike Tapp says protesters arrived at the Port of Dover "in the early hours" of Saturday morning dressed all in black and wearing balaclavas, which has been "extremely intimidating" to local residents.

The Labour MP tells BBC News there is "nothing wrong with protest" but claims protesters "don't have the right to come to our town, block our roads and wear balaclavas".

"Residents are fed up of this sort of disruption from people that don't even live here," he adds.

Tapp acknowledges the incident is really worrying but urges people to "still go about your business" and "don't let these protesters stop you".

He adds that police are working "hard", and he is waiting for an update from them.

The Port of Dover says that roads near the site are "now free flowing" and reminds customers they will be able to get on the next available sailing once they reach check-in.

In its latest update, P&O Ferries says that its services are still facing delays of up to an hour.

Ferry company DFDS has also posted on X, saying that it is no longer facing disruption at the port.

Local councillor Chris Vinson says "several hundred masked men" have been blocking local roads.

“There are stacks of people who are stuck in their cars or in their workplaces as a result," says Vinson, who is leader of the Conservative group at Dover District Council.

Vinson, speaking before the protesters dispersed, said their motives appeared to be "illegal migration-related" - a BBC reporter at the scene has since confirmed they were chanting "stop the boats".

“I’m not aware that there’s been any violence, although clearly, having the path of your vehicle blocked by men wearing black paramilitary gear and balaclavas is extremely intimidating," he adds, "especially when it’s not clear why they’re there and the police weren’t aware."

Vinson describes how some port workers on night shifts were "being prevented from leaving for fears for their safety", while some women in cars were "feeling intimidated".

Traffic is now able to enter and leave the Port of Dover via the A2 Jubilee Way, the port says.

A post on the port's X account tells customers if they cannot make their booking then Irish Ferries, DFDS and P&O Ferries will allow them on their next available sailing.

Remco van Schellen arrived in Dover from the Netherlands at about 08:00 BST.

He says that when he wanted to leave the ferry terminal with his car "we couldn't go any further".

"There were people blocking the roads, the roundabout, just outside of the ferry terminal in Dover," he tells the BBC.

"There were people in black clothing, their faces masked, so we couldn't see who they were."

He adds: "It was my welcome party here."

Image source, Remco van Schellen